Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack

I will be hosting my annual Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack on Monday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Nov. 29.  If you live in the area, and would like to attend, please contact me.  My telephone number and e-mail address can be found in this blog header at the top of the page.  The way it works is you choose the cards you want to make and make them in sets of 5 each.  I will have everything pre-cut for you so it makes it easy to put them together.  I just need at least 3 days notice so I can have your packets ready!!  This is always a fun event with prizes given out while you create.  The price is

$35 for 20 cards   /   $65 for 40 cards   /   $95 for 60 cards.  (amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities)

I had a hard time narrowing down the card choices this year!  Well, truthfully, I have this problem every year!!  Here are the cards you can choose from.

CARD #1 Your choice of Fox or Owl below

CARD #1B

CARD #2 - Your choice to do the trees in any of the papers from Warmth and Cheer DSP stack (pg 13-Holiday Catty)

CARD #3

CARD #4 - Your choice of background colors - see card below for another option.

CARD #4 B

CARD #5

CARD #6

CARD #7

CARD #8

CARD #9

CARD #10

CARD #11

CARD #12

CARD #13

CARD #14

CARD #15

November Paper Pumpkin

Be aware - the November Hostess Code is in the column on the left side of this blog.

 If you are short on time, space, supplies, etc. . . . Paper Pumpkin might be a great solution for you.  The November box is sure to hold something exciting for the holidays!  Now would be the perfect time to try it for yourself.  Sign up by the 10th to get the November box.  Remember, you can skip or cancel anytime AND your satisfaction is guaranteed!  I also think this would be a great Christmas present for a teen on your list.

This past weekend was Stampin' Up's On Stage which is an events program designed to bring together SU demonstrators from all over the world.  At the event, the newest catalog is revealed and well as demonstrators being recognized for their achievements.  It's been described as a little like attending a very big and fun party where you can meet new friends, re-connect with old friends, create Make and Takes, do some card swapping, take home free products and much more.  There is one big live On Stage and several local ones where you watch some of the recorded content from the live On Stage.  Last weekend the live On Stage was held in Brisbane, AU and the closest local event for NC was Atlanta.  I had a lot of friends who attended.  Sadly, I did not - too much traveling for me lately so had to sit this one out.  I hope to attend the next local On Stage in Savannah thought in April!

But, I didn't miss out on all the fun of On Stage.  A lot of demos posted picture on Facebook or on their blogs of the fun they were having.  Last night was my monthly demo meeting with Allison and, what a sweetie!  She brought us the Occasions Catalog which will be revealed Jan. 1!!  Plus we got to see all the swaps that she and the other gals had gotten at the event.

I have a few more birthday cards to share with you today.

My card from Ashley

Sweet card from an NC Demo friend, Jo Anne

Love all the details in this card from Margaret.

This was Ashley's card to her dad.  His birthday was a week after mine.

Christmas Cards plus more traveling pics!

I'm on a roll this week with  keeping my blog updated!  I have been working on Christmas cards all week getting ready for my annual Christmas Card Stamp a Stack.  I am still working on the date - late November I know for sure but I am surveying my regulars to see what works best for them.  I always have room for new people though (as long as I know in advance!)  I design 10-15 cards and the gals each pick which ones they want to make (in groups of 5).  When they come to my house on the designated day, I have everything ready to go with a lot of things cut out and embossed.  All you have to bring with you is your basic supplies - adhesive, bone folder, scissors, etc.  The cost is

$35 for 20 cards   /   $65 for 40 cards   /   $95 for 60 cards.  (amounts will be pro-rated for other quantities), including envelopes.  Contact me if you are interested in attending!

This is such a cute set but it is a hostess set called Cozy Critters.

I love this using the Jars framelits and Jar of Cheer.

I think I am obsessed with the Christmas Pines thinlits and stamps!  Love, love, love this set!

I don't know that you will see these 3 in the finals mainly because they are too time consuming.  I try to do great cards but without a lot of time having to be spent on them!  That is sometimes tricky to do!

OK - now a few more pictures - this time from Sonoma and our wine tasting!

This was one of our last stops and it was a good thing for me!  The winery was in a cave.

We got pretty good at taking selfies!

Yum - I got chocolate with this tasting!

Taking a break on a beautiful day.

Help yourself to a bottle!

Stitched From the Heart

Keep your fingers crossed that my computer doesn't crash.  It has been running so sloooow lately.  I've taken it apart today and cleaned inside and I am hoping that will help.  Guess I need to back it up - just in case!

How do like my new blog heading?  Those are some pictures I took last week in Sonoma.  

Anyway .... I wanted to share with you a new product that Stampin' Up just released yesterday - a fabulous new framelit called Stitched Shapes.   I already have them on my wish list and will be ordering soon!  I think they are going to add a lot to our cards.  I like to do piercing around my layers but don't usually do it because it is too time consuming.  This set includes 12 dies - 4 circles, 4 squares and 4 ovals with stitching around the edges.  And to add to the fun, the coordinating stamp sets are also on sale for 25% off for the whole month of November!!




And here is a sweet video featuring the Stitched from the Heart framelits.  Notice that JOY on the mantle!  I am going to M's and look for those and decorate the letters with the stitched red circles!!

Here are a few pictures from my San Francisco trip.  Of course, most of the pictures with me in them are on Ashley's camera!

Hanging on the cable car!

Panoramic view of Golden Gate taken from the Presidio right before we drove across the bridge.

These hearts were in a park across from our hotel.  This one was painted by Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

She may ride forever above the streets of San Francisco!

Where have I been you are asking!  A little bit of everywhere!  I left NC on Oct. 24 headed to San Francisco.  What a day that was!  I had a short (I thought) layover in Detroit (arrived at 11:30 for noon departure) but when I landed, I had a message that my plane was delayed a bit.  When I got to the gate, they were offering $500 in vouchers for volunteering to take the 5:30 flight to San Francisco.  No, I didn't want to leave that late.  Ha, ha!  Should have taken them up on the offer.  Was able to get on the plane around 2 p.m. - taxied away from the gate a bit only to have Traffic Control call the plane back to the gate and we all departed!  There were bad winds from the south for San Fran and some of the runways were shut down.  We ended up being able to leave around 4!  When I arrived in San Francisco and collected my luggage, I took the airport train over to the BART station which is their rapid transit system.  I had decided to take this route to the hotel instead of a $60 taxi.  Got to BART, bought my ticket ($8) and boarded the subway.  After getting seated, they announced there was a train ahead blocking the tracks so we had to get off the train and go to another one on a different set of tracks!  Finally I'm on my way on the second BART train and when I arrived at the station, I could not find my ticket (that I needed to get out of the station!)  Think I put it in my pocket and it must have dropped out when I pulled my phone out!  Thought I was going to be like the old Kingston Trio song, "Charlie on the MTA" - instead it would be - Sharon on the BART!  The song's lyrics tell of Charlie, a man who boards an MTA subway car, but then cannot get off because he does not have enough money for the exit fare.

When he got there the conductor told him,

"One more nickel."

Charlie could not get off that train.

The song goes on to say that every day Charlie's wife hands him a sandwich "as the train comes rumbling through" because he is stranded on the train. 

He may ride forever

'neath the streets of Boston

He's the man who never returned.

 

I ended up going to the Security Office and they let me through the gate!  Ashley was waiting for me - with a sandwich (not really! but she was waiting.)

We headed off to the Marriott, Union Square, just a short 2-3 blocks away and then on to have dinner and a well deserved cocktail!

Notice the bags under my eyes!!

Before I started on my little adventure, we met the family at a restaurant in Huntersville on Saturday (10/22) night (my birthday) to celebrate mine, Sonny's and Greg's birthdays.  Sonny and I had just picked up my brother-in-law (Jack) from the airport and he was able to join us too.  Fun!

Marianne and Kim

Sonny and I

Mom and Angela

The boys - Greg, Jack and Sonny

I'll be sharing more pictures of my trip in the next few days!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me!  Today is my special day and I plan on doing what I want to do all day!  Not sure what that will be, but I will enjoy myself!  I know I plan on going out for breakfast with my hubbie.  Then he is going to drop me off at Belk's and Kohl's for a little shopping while he visit with his chiropractor.  My brother in law from Texas is flying in Saturday evening and after picking him up at the airport, we are going to meet my mom, Angela, Marianne and Greg for a birthday dinner.  We will be celebrating not only my birthday but Sonny's (10/30) and Greg's (11/1).  Jack (brother in law) is not coming here just for my birthday.  He and Sonny are going skeet shooting next week in Georgetown, SC.  I'll at least get to see Jack on this visit.  The last time he was here, I was out of town and the last few times I've been in Texas, he has had conflicts and we weren't able to meet.  I'll have a couple of days to visit with him before I head off to meet Ashley in San Francisco on Monday!  Ashley and I plan on being in San Fran until Wednesday and then renting a car and driving to Sonoma for a little wine tasting! 

I have gotten so many great cards this week - some hand made and some bought - but they were all much appreciated.  Here are some of the hand made ones I have received.

from Joyce

from my upline, Carol

from the NC Demo Group

from Gayle

from Sharon

Sharon's card inside

Aren't I the lucky one?!